Africa’s legal and business landscape continues to evolve as collaboration across borders becomes increasingly essential for trade and investment. In a strategic move that reinforces this trend, Effi & Associés, a leading business law firm based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has officially joined Africa Law Practice International (ALPi), a Pan-African legal and professional services network. This partnership makes Effi & Associés the tenth member of ALPi, expanding the network’s presence to key African markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius, and now Côte d’Ivoire. The onboarding ceremony, held at the offices of Effi & Associés in Abidjan, marks a significant milestone in ALPi’s expansion into Francophone West Africa. The development aligns with the network’s goal of fostering a unified legal framework that supports the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and enhances intra-African business collaboration. According to Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Senior Partner at ALP Nigeria, the inclusion of Effi & Associés strengthens ALPi’s mission to provide high-quality, cross-border legal expertise that reflects the continent’s growing economic integration. “Getting one of the most highly regarded lawyers in Francophone Africa, Serge Effi, and his firm, Effi & Associés, to join the ALPi Practice Group is fantastic news for us and our clients across the ten African Union member states where we now operate,” Shasore said. He emphasized that the bilingual strength of Effi & Associés and its cross-border experience will enhance the network’s capacity to navigate both civil and common law systems. This development, he added, advances ALPi’s vision of building a truly Pan-African legal platform designed for the AfCFTA era.
A Growing Legal Network for a Borderless Africa
For ALPi, the addition of Effi & Associés is not just about expanding geographical reach it reflects a deliberate strategy to create a borderless legal service for African businesses and investors. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates (ALP Ghana), highlighted this when he said, “Africa is becoming increasingly a single market, where we see our clients, from multinationals to SMEs, expanding across borders. That is why we are deliberate about ensuring that ALPi has a presence across the continent for our clients and potential partners both within Africa and globally.” He added that bringing Effi & Associés into the network aligns with ALPi’s long-term vision of building a one-stop, high-quality advisory platform for clients seeking to do or expand their business in Africa.
Strengthening Ties Between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire
For Côte d’Ivoire’s Effi & Associés, the partnership is a forward-looking step toward integrating Francophone and Anglophone legal systems to promote business growth. Dr. Serge Effi, Managing Partner of the firm, expressed his optimism about joining the network, stating, “We are very happy to be part of this Pan-African-focused law family. This partnership is greatly welcomed by our clients and enhances our ability to offer seamless legal services across both civil law and common law jurisdictions. This is exactly where Africa is going toward deeper integration and cooperation among its professionals and markets.” Similarly, Uyi Giwa-Osagie, Partner at ALP Nigeria, noted that this collaboration will strengthen business and trade relations between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire two of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies. By connecting legal professionals and institutions across both regions, ALPi continues to position itself as one of Africa’s most geographically diverse and AfCFTA-driven law networks.
